Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method performed by a network node for detecting a false base station in a communications network, the method comprising: sending a first message to a network device, which first message comprises first configuration data configuring the network device to perform measurements in order to collect first information transmitted by network nodes in a surrounding area of the network device, receiving a first measurement report from the network device according to the first configuration, sending a second message to the network device configuring the network device to collect secondary information, receiving the secondary information from the network device, detecting the presence of a false base station based on a difference between the received secondary information and predetermined target information.
A network node detects false base stations by instructing a nearby device to measure signals from surrounding base stations. The node sends a configuration message to the device, telling it what to measure (first information). The device sends back a report (first measurement report). The network node then resends configuration, instructing the network device to collect secondary information. The device reports the secondary information back to the network node. The node compares the secondary information against known target values. If there's a significant difference, the node flags a false base station. This involves using measurements reported by mobile devices to identify potentially rogue base stations in the network.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method performed by the network node further comprises: comparing the received secondary information with predetermined target information in order to detect differences between the secondary information and the predetermined target information.
The network node detects false base stations by sending configuration data to a device for measuring signals from nearby base stations. The device reports information back to the node, then the process repeats with secondary configuration to collect more information. The network node then compares the received secondary information with predetermined target values to detect differences. This comparison is central to identifying discrepancies that suggest the presence of a false base station. This difference detection process specifically involves comparing the reported secondary information with predetermined, expected values.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the method performed by the network node further comprises: detecting a difference between the received first information and predetermined target information that is different than the target information to which the secondary information is compared.
The network node detects false base stations using device measurements and comparison against targets. The node first sends a configuration for collecting initial information, then receives and processes that data. Secondary configuration is sent to collect more information. This claim focuses on comparing both the initial information and the secondary information against different target values. A difference between the received first information and a first target is detected. A difference between the secondary information and a second (different) target is also detected.
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the difference between at least one of the first information and the secondary information and the respective target information is detected based on the difference of the pilot signal strength.
The network node detects false base stations using device measurements and signal strength analysis. The node sends configurations to a device for collecting initial and secondary information, then compares the collected data with target values. The node identifies discrepancies between at least one of the reported sets of information (first or secondary) and their respective target values. The difference, indicating a false base station, is determined by analyzing the variance in the pilot signal strength, comparing the measured pilot signal strength from a base station against the expected target pilot signal strength.
5. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the difference between at least one of the first information and the secondary information and the respective target information is detected based on a presence of a cell identity in the received information which is not present in the target information.
The network node identifies false base stations by analyzing cell identities reported by devices. The node configures a device to collect initial and secondary information, comparing the received data with target values. The system determines if a difference exists between the collected information and the target, flagging an issue if an unexpected cell identity is present in the received data. Specifically, the presence of a cell identity in the device's report, that is absent in the target information, triggers the indication of a potential false base station.
6. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the difference between at least one of the first information and the secondary information and the respective target information is averaged over a plurality of network devices, and/or over a plurality of measurements made by a single network device, and/or over a plurality of measurements made by a plurality of network devices.
The network node detects false base stations using averaged measurements from multiple devices. The node sends configurations to devices to collect initial and secondary data, comparing this information against target values. The difference between at least one of the information reports (initial or secondary) and the target information is calculated by averaging. This averaging can occur across multiple devices, multiple measurements from a single device, or multiple measurements from multiple devices to reduce noise and improve accuracy in detecting discrepancies that might indicate a false base station.
7. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the comparison may comprise verifying that a given cell identifier and Cell Global Identity in the secondary information are assigned to the same Tracking Area Code or Location Area Code as in the secondary target information.
The network node detects false base stations by verifying location consistency. The node sends configuration to a device to collect secondary information. The node then compares the received secondary information with predetermined target information. The comparison includes verifying that a given cell identifier and Cell Global Identity in the received secondary information are assigned to the same Tracking Area Code or Location Area Code as in the expected (target) secondary information, ensuring location consistency. A mismatch indicates a potential rogue base station.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first information and the secondary information comprises physical cell identifiers, carrier frequencies and pilot signal strengths.
The network node detects false base stations using key base station identifiers reported by devices. The node sends configuration to a device, instructing it to report either initial or secondary information. This information, used to detect false base stations, contains at least physical cell identifiers (PCIs), carrier frequencies, and pilot signal strengths. This data helps identify and locate surrounding base stations, enabling the node to compare these against expected values and detect anomalies.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first information and the secondary information is collected from frequencies and radio technologies not used when the network node and network device communicate themselves.
The network node detects false base stations using measurements from different radio technologies. The node instructs a device to collect either initial or secondary information. Critically, at least one of these information sets is gathered from frequencies and radio technologies that the network node and device *don't* use for their direct communication. This allows for monitoring and detection of rogue base stations operating on different networks or bands, outside of the normal operational frequencies.
10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the target information is cell planning data.
The network node detects false base stations by comparing measurements against cell planning data. The node sends configuration to a device, instructing the device to report either initial or secondary information. The 'target information' used for comparison, the data against which the device reports are judged, *is cell planning data*. This data includes expected cell IDs, frequencies, and signal strengths defined during network deployment, which represent legitimate base station parameters.
11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the secondary information is a System Information Block.
The network node detects false base stations by analyzing System Information Blocks (SIBs). The node configures a device to collect secondary information. In this claim, *the secondary information is a System Information Block (SIB)*. SIBs are broadcast messages containing network configuration details, and comparing these against expected SIB content can reveal rogue base stations broadcasting incorrect or malicious information.
12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the network node configures the network device to perform measurements based on a Minimization to Drive Test function.
The network node uses Minimization of Drive Tests (MDT) for false base station detection. The network node configures the network device to perform measurements based on a Minimization to Drive Test (MDT) function. This means leveraging MDT capabilities to remotely collect measurements, reducing the need for physical drive tests and enabling continuous monitoring for rogue base stations.
13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the network node configures the network device to perform measurements using an Automatic Neighbor Relation function.
The network node uses Automatic Neighbor Relation (ANR) for false base station detection. The network node configures the network device to perform measurements using an Automatic Neighbor Relation (ANR) function. This means leveraging ANR functionalities, where devices automatically discover and report neighboring cells, to collect information for detecting false base stations by identifying unexpected or unauthorized neighbors.
14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the configuration is triggered by an event, which event is a handover or a detection of a pilot signaling strength exceeding a threshold value.
The network node initiates false base station detection based on specific events. The configuration of device measurements is triggered by an event. This event is either a handover attempt (when a device switches to a new base station) *or* the detection of a pilot signal strength exceeding a predefined threshold value. These triggers indicate potential changes in the network environment, prompting a more detailed analysis to check for rogue base stations.
15. A network node for use in detecting a false base station in a communications network, wherein the network node is configured to: send a message to a network device, which message comprises configuration data for configuring the network device to perform measurements in order to collect information transmitted by network nodes in a surrounding area of the network device; receive a measurement report from the network device according to the configuration, wherein the measurement report comprises a physical cell identifier (PCI) that the network device determined from synchronization signals received by the network device, wherein the synchronization signals were transmitted by a base station; determine whether the base station is a false base station based on the PCI reported by the network device; and provide an indication that a false base station is present as a result of determining that the base station is a false base station.
A network node detects false base stations by receiving measurement reports from a network device that include Physical Cell Identifiers (PCIs) observed by the device. The node sends a configuration message to a network device instructing it to perform measurements and collect information transmitted by surrounding network nodes. The network device reports its findings, including PCIs obtained from synchronization signals received from base stations. The network node then determines if any of these base stations are false based on the reported PCIs and provides an indication if a false base station is present.
16. The network node according to claim 15 , wherein the network node is configured to determine whether the base station is a false base station based on the PCI reported by the network device by performing a process comprising determining whether the PCI reported by the network device is included in a list of PCIs maintained by the network node.
A network node determines the validity of base stations by cross-referencing reported PCIs against a known list. The network node sends a message to a device configuring it to collect information from surrounding base stations and report back the Physical Cell Identifiers (PCIs). The node then determines whether a base station is false based on whether the reported PCI is included in a list of PCIs maintained by the network node. This comparison allows the node to quickly identify unauthorized or rogue base stations operating with unknown or invalid PCIs.
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December 5, 2017
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